McClaren admits that even back in his time as Middlesbrough boss, Newcastle was a job he eyed and thought, 'Maybe one day.'

He knows what a powerful force St James’ Park can be.

On the last day of the season, he watched on a mate’s cinema-screen sized TV as the Magpies beat West Ham to survive in the Premier League.

“Big screen - sound on full blast! I went, 'Wow. There is a football club.' No one is going to beat them. Everyone was together. What came first? The players and the attitude they had? Or the crowd? It works together.

“I have experienced it in that opposition dug-out. When that happens, you have no chance.

“I thought, 'Keep that - every other Saturday, let’s have that.' With the resources, recruitment and expertise, we can get that. It excites me.

“It is a unique stadium - a unique atmosphere. When it is up, wow, it is a hard place to come and that is something that needs to be recreated. It is a nightmare for opponents.”